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N-A-E-B NEWS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELUCATIONAL BROADCASTERS
Radio Hall, U.V^*, JVIadison, Wisconsin
January 1 , 194 ?
’’COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHAPQl'iS
FM BUSIl'TESS - December, 1946 says in part; ’’EDUCATIONAL CEAIEEL EXCESS? Undsr
the pressure of highly corapetitive hearings, some FM applicants, through their
attorneys and engineers, have grumbled that 20 FM channels are too many to^be set
aside for educational institutions* They point to the slow rate of educational
applications submitted thus far as justification for their claim. Educators,^in
turn, admit that schools are slow to apply, but blame legislators for tight-fisted¬
ness and point to extensive plans.
’’But here is the box score of the extent to which all the educators’ plans
have been executed: six stations have been licensed, 23 construction permits have
been issued, 20 applications are pending. Tv/enty other applications were tendered
to the FCC only to be withdrawn by the applicants or returned by the FCC with the
notation ’’incomplete”.
AVIATION vs. FM
The desirability of high spots as locations for FM transmitting towers and the
undesirability of their use for such a purpose in the eyes of aviation interests
has created a real headache.
FM operators logically look for the tallest hills or peaks as sites from which
to get maximum coverage. Airmen look upon those peaks as hazards to air navigation,
and object to having those hazards increased. Reconciling the two interests is
no simple problem.
Sooner or later the matter of legal rights will need to be clarified for the
benefit of all concerned. So far the Civil Aeronautics Administration has been able
to exert a strong influence by objecting to the FCC to the location of tovers in
certain locations. CAA admits that of itself it is virtually without authority to
do more than recommend. Beyond that lies the question of the authority of the FCC
to deny licenses where all the specified requirements for the operation of a station
are satisfactorily met.
The rights of property owners also enter into the picture. Denial of the
right of an owner to use his property to a legitimate end amounts to a confiscation
of that property, and compensation is expected.
Aviation interests point to the millions of dollars being spent on airports
and air operations, saying that radio towers cannot be permitted to interfere with
progress. Yet they are not ready to accept progress which has been made by calling
for the use in planes of the radar type devices which can detect obstructions even
when visibility is zero.
This conflict in interests between aviation with the thousands it serves, and
radio with its millions of listeners, must be resolved, he must go forward on
both fronts.
2
THE MEV^' YEAR
Vvhat v;ill 1947 brin^ to the National Association of Educational Broadcasters?
Certainly the opportunity to go forward on all fronts. And hov^r will we handle
that opportunity? The answer will be written in the months ahead.
This is the golden opportunity for educational broadcasting. Facilities
assignments in the non-commercial band are available, and there must be more
evidence of intentions on the part of school people to use them. Y<e must encourage
it lest the story of Mi radio be permitted to repeat itself. 1947 should see a
flood of FM applications from institutions interested in using radio to extend
their services. NAEB must encourage this, and give assistance to such applicants.
A real obstacle to progress is complacency. It is all too easy to follow a
fixed pattern until it becomes a deep rut. This is a time for appraising the past--
and charting a course ahead.
The NAEB course must lead to greater service to FM broadcasters. There is a
high degree of transfer value from AM to FM, and the experience of the years can be
used to advantage. Broadcasting is broadcasting—-be it FM or AM. The basic
interests are the same. Yve will move forward together toward the goal of better
radio for all.
SIEGEL REPORTS USE OF TAPE RECORDER
Seymour Siegel, Y<NYC program director, has been using the Brush Sound Mirror
Tape Recorder, and has the following to report*
Our experience with the recorder has been centered mainly on the recording of
speeches and discussions. The practicality comes from its compactness and simplicity
in operation, as well as its ability to both record and play back at one-fifth the
cost of recording on regular transcriptions. The frequency response of 6000 cycles
can be considered high fidelity enough insofar as voice recordings are concerned.
Lesser success has been attained thus far in our experimental tests with music.
The principle of operation involved in the pa : er tape recorder is the use of
a ribbon of paper a quarter of an inch wide and coated with a ferrous base which
gives it magnetic properties similar to the steel thread used in the wire recorder.
The advantage of paper in editing is obvious. A snip with a pair of shears, and
the use of a little scotch tape to bind the ends together does not require the
skill, patience and time necessary in re-dubbing and re-editing the normal trans¬
cription.
The cost is about one-third to one-fourth of what most wire recorders were
selling at, and one-half hour’s quantity of paper is expected to sell for $1.50 to
$1.75. The tape, of course, can be used over and over again although, obviously,
its life is not as long as the wire reel. The advantage of any recorder lies in
its ability to turn the whole world into a studio and in oases of stations v/ith
small budgets, such as '*NYC, it has proven a boon in our telephone line budget allot¬
ment. Several changes could advantageously be made in the present model to permit
use of associated amplifiers, but for the expenditure involved it is our considered
opinion that good value is received. It would be premature after our brief assoc¬
iation with the machine to make any conclusive observations, but the potentialities
of the tape recorder are excellent and for v^fhat times we have used it, the results
have attained considerable success.
3
FACILITIES A^ID SERVICE EXC FJ^NGE
Frank Sohooley (VaLL) and Bob Higgy (WOSU) set a pattern for cooperation
which other members may be able to use to good advantage. „„n-l-hpv
The idea is for one member to provide equipment and operating help for anothe.
in making pickups from the former's home territory—as in football and other
special fvLts. Charge for this service is billed at cost to the station being
''^''^^Thls eliminates tho necessity for carrying heavy equipment and extra personnel
around the country. Several members have already expressed their willingness to
play ball with otLrs on such arrangements. T.rite directly to the member you want
to work with.'
MEMPERSEIP DRIVE
This is the opportune time for bringing us the 1947 memberships. Old members
will receive their Les statements from Treasurer Griffith. There are "'any in¬
stitutions now eligible for membership which need a bit of encouragement and an
invitation to join. So. let's start a personalized campaign-every member get
a member! An application blank accompanies this llews-Ietter. tore are available
-o.. ...
now active in educational broadcasting, consider the ™ ‘ ^
good prospects who need NAEB-and who are needed by HAEE in the united front
eduoahonh broadcasters must have to adequately represent their interests.
FACILITIES AND FCC
AATX (University of Michigan). Applied for extension of time for completion
of construction. (December 2)
KSAC (Kansas State College) —granted CP to increase power to 5 to/., install
new transmitter and vertical antenna. (November e2)
Oklahoma City Board of Education—granted CP for a new non-oommeroial
educational FI.i station to operate on 90.7 Ec. 700 watts, 500 ft. antenna.
(November 21)
KUSC (University of Southern California)— Formal (dedication ceremonies
held on De< 3 ember 5, 1946 (EM, 91.7 me.) (Capt. Allen G. Hancock, Hancock Foundation)
Grant Union High School and Teohnioal Collep, North Sacramental, California—
FCC granted request for cancellation of appli.cation (July , ) or non
commercial educational FIJI station, (November 29)
OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBORS LISTEN , . _. ,. „ _
-The Nontreal Gazott5~slVs of ^.3. Radio—"An appalling overcrowding of the
entertainment ether and excessive advertising has made selective radio listening
an exasperation and has forced those who like to pick their programs to fo
their luck with local stations", hell, that should help to build audiences for
educational stations.
JAHUARY 1-TII.1E FOR 1947 DUESJ
- 4 -
G UESTITORIAL
Last May, at the invitation of Elmer Sulzer, I attended the Convention of
the American College Public Relations Association in Lexington. It was one of
the most enjoyable moetings I have ever attended.
There was a large room filled with displays of college publicity| magazine
stories^ bulletins, brochures, catalogues, pictures, news re leasesj an impres-
! sive display of'the use of the printed word. There was not a si:agle display or
i presentation of the use of the spoken word for publicity purpose:'> Prizes
■ were awarded for (1) Best College Pictorial Booklet, (2) Best College Catalogue
: (3) Best News Photo used during the year, (4) Best news story used during the
i year interpreting education, (5) Miscellaneous Publicity Pieces.” ^There were
j no transcriptions, no copies of radio scripts. Evidently the Public Relations
I directors do not consider radio as one of their outstanding mediums for dis¬
seminating information to the public concerning the research, the learning, and
the instruction available on their campuses.
A total of 173 representatives from colleges and universities were regis¬
tered at the convention. There were Publicity and Public Relations Directors;
news, sports, and research editors. There were art editors and photographers;
Directors of Information and of Public Announcements. One, just one, member of
the College Public Relations Association in attendance at the convention evi¬
denced some connection with radio. An examination of the entire membership
roster shows 500 members, but not even Elmer admits connection with radio. In
1947 there v/ill be at least one listing in the radio field, because I have
been accepted as a ’’secondary member”.
Have we broadcasters been so intent with serving the radio audience that
we have neglected to sell radio to our institutions as a medium in the field
of Public Relations? Do College Public Relations Departments fail to recognize
the radio quintuplets, A.M., F.M., facisimile,^television, and wired radio.
Each of these types of broadcasting offers an individual type of public service
each will have a different audience.
It v/ould be redundant to point out the great advantages that radio offers
in the field of public relations. That is not my point-, I merely present fact
which imply that radio should be sold to the campus, to the college public
relations departments. On the other hand. College Public Relations Directors
had better recognize radio for the medium it is or, with the advent of FM ed¬
ucational stations, they will be ’’secondary members”.
Public Relations and Radio Broadcasting are so intimately connected that
their respective directors must work with and profit from one another. Start
broadcasting to the home campus.
Imldo Abbot
Director of Broadcasting
University of Michigan
Next month's guestitorialist: John.IV, Dunn, Oklahoma.
THE SECRETARY’S PAGE
Radio City
New York, N.Y.
From way up here it looks as if, for a great many reasons, there will be plenty
of activity on the FM front in the year ahead. There are many reasons, but it seems
to me the three most important are;
1. The continuous issuance of FM grants by the Commission ... the continuous
encouragement to FM by the Commission ... and the fact that the Commission is adher¬
ing to its hearing schedule although the manufacturers didn’t live up t'O their
production schedule.
2. The forthright speech of Chairman Charles Denny at the recent NAB convention
which left no room for doubt in the minds of anyone that the interest in FM is not
limited to just one or a few Commissioners, but it is the unanimous opiniopi of all
the Commissioners. Many an eyebrow lifted when he said, ^
"The Commission has expressly authorized me to say to you again
that it is our opinion that FL'I is the finest aural broadcast
system attainable in the present state of the radio art. FM is
not coming; it’s here. And it is growing fast. Already there
are 66 stations in operation and 564 more authorized (counting
both construction permits and conditional grants). In addition,
there are 307 applications pending. Our long-range plans for FM.
look forward to the day when every square inch of every state from
the Atlantic Ocean west to the middle of the Dakotas, Nebraska,
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas will be covered - night and day - with
satisfactory FT.': signals. Similarly, FM signals solidly will
blanket the Pacific Coast states. The area in between these two
sections is what is now the poorest served portion of our country.
FM will serve large parts of it but cannot reasonably be expected
to serve it all. Here our long-range plans look for a revamped
AM service to fill in t'he gaps."
3. The non-production of receivers was the real stumbling block to FM audience
development; but I have a hunch the solid front of manufacturers has been cracked.
A great many small manufacturers and sub-contractors would have switched to AM-FM
in recent months, were it not for the pressure by big manufacturers to hold to their
production schedule of cheap AM sets. The margin of profit v/as greater and by just
holding the line, of course no risk was involved. But the bottom has been hit. I
predict that many a retailer will have plenty of inexpensive sets left on his shelves
after the holidays, and when that happens the big fellows will be forced to change
their production schedules and bring out something new. A popular-priced AM-FM set,
while higher than the low-priced AM set, will nevertheless be less expensive than
television or good radio-phonograph combinations, , . « r ./?—
Our job then is clear. Every station ought to increase its FM schedule
and improve the program service. Chairman Denny hit the nail on the head—
"In a sentence, the way to get FM moving still faster is for you
to get stations on the air and -the public will demand receivers,
I know it’s hard to convince yourself that you should spend money
to put on a program that nobody can hear. But it’s even harder
to convince the public that it should buy sets when there is
nothing to listen to. It’s your next move. Give this new superior
broadcast service to the people as soon as possible."
It’s our next move -
It’s our great chance.
Morris S. Novik
Executive Secretary
STATION REPORTS
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor.
-Yj a Ido Abbot repor’oi the extension by the FCC of the completion date for its
FM station to June 16, 1947. Equipment for the new m station is being received
"every few days". The Civilian production Authority issued a building permit for
the construction of a building to house the transmitter at Peach Mo'.;ntain. ^The^
building is to be approximately 50 x 35 feet-two stories (as it us on a hillside,
unc story will be partially a basement). The first story inc.udes adages, boiler
T'.s.;m, switch room and transformer vault for the Edison Company, sh-p, store room,
iiie main floor will include the transmitter room, transcription and announcer’s
Dooth, operator’s lounge, small lobby, repair shop#
Kv'.'SC-^TrYashington State College, Pullman.
-The station is getting from and ‘giving to "cyclical programming" a great deal
of publicity. A station operator in a nearby state says it has resulted in"a‘ much
snappier schedule than most coppege stations".
KY^SC is attempting to develop new regional talent and shows in the Pacific
Northwest. In this direction it presents a v;eekly broadcast "The Lamplighters"
featuring a 20--voice choir and a nev/ format.
The news releases issued regularly by the station serve as a record for future
reference (and give current informations-thanks). More stations should get out
such summaries of current happenings. KYYSC also publishes lists of the current
addresses of its "alumni" .
Indiana State Teachers College-Terre Haute.
-"The Hoosier Schoolmaster of the Air", Clarence Morgan, writes asking for a
statement for his 1947 membership dues—and so sets a record I He reports the
following as a year-end summary:
The twelfth consecutive year of broadcasting by I.S.T.C. over YvBCY'v saw many
significant contributions made to radio education. In the course of a year the
institution presented 315 broadcasts (4,720 minutes) on the air.
The U.S. Office of Education established a transcription lean center in the
Radio Division of I.S.T.C.
Throughout the war, a four-page mimeographed bulletin entitled "Radio Ramblings
was sent to men and women who entered the armed forces of the United States. This
bulletin contained items of current interest concerning campus rad_c activities
and extracts from letters received from those in the serwice. Approximately three
hundred of these bulletins v/ere mailed each month from the campus studios.
To acquaint listeners of the Y^'abash Valley with broadcasts being presented by
Indiana State Teachers College over YYBGfY, three thousand post cards were printed
and mailed to listeners. These cards carried notices of regular program.s and
announcements of special broadcasts or the introduction of a new series of programs.
WKAR-Michigan State College, East Lansing.
-’^Yhat's' The GooOord" is a program which is attracting attention because it
includes information on the derivation, pronunciation and use of words in a
functional language. It is on the air vJeekly through the speech department.
Bob Coleman reports listeners protesting the shortening of the broadcasting
day due to earlier sundown sign-off time. Present schedule: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
YYHA-University of YYi scons in, Madi son .
-in cooperation with the Y,i scons in "Aeronautics Commission and^the U.S. Yveather
Bureau at Truax Field, the station will present tv;o broadcasts daily of weather in¬
formation for flyers and travellers. The broadcasts will be done by the meteor¬
ologist directly from the field. These are in addition to the daily general broad¬
cast frotn the YJeather Bureau on the campus*
- 6 -
HITS AND IvUSSES
The Georgia Assooiat'-on of Broadcasters is collaborating with^ the University
of Georgia in what it calls a "grassroots” approach to indoctrinating students and
faculty in practical radio operations. ¥<e wonder who is getting set to make hay r
Stewart McPherson, of the BPC, visited Canada recently. ^He listened to the
radio and said, "It’s pretty near unbearable listening, especially in the afternoon,
during washtub programs. The British will never have commercial radio". And no
■nging commercials?
Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra will next summer present a new
symphony based on five commercial jingles. (Laxative ad reps please note.)
"Government Talent On Parade" is listed as a new Y.ashin^ton D.C. broadcast.
That one should come from the Union Station platform after the new Congress gets
to work.
The Michigan faculty in the levity of a "Family Night Party" contemplated
on what to expect if the institution’s new FM station were to be a commercial station
These samples were offered by various interests;
In the style of Lucky Strike;
U yi —- M F E U M-M F E
University of Michigan Means Finer Education. Yes the
University of Michigan Means Finer Education. The University of
Michigan gets the cream of the crop. So round, so firm, so fully
packed, so free and easy on the draw-the University of Michigan
Faculty. To those wUio know education best-it’s Michigan 2 to 1.
In the style of Pepsi Cola;
Public Health sure hits the spot
Tvvelve dead microbes thats a lot
Tv'ice the jobs, good pay too
Public Health's the School for you.
In the style of Ipana and Salapatica;
Have you ever asked yourself "Hhat’s wrong with the W'^rld
It's always a question of too much and not enout-h. Too much m^.ney and
not enough goods. Too many peo-ple and T..Dt enough supplies. Too much
material and not enough production. Th.-se problems can best b ' n.lved
by the production and. research methods developed at the Universj.ty of
Michigan School of Engineering. Their new, modern technfques^wi11 make
you hot in the winter and cold in the summer, they’ll build cities in
the country and countries in the city. The .School of jjjngineerxng, can
melt down the nation’s currency and mould the nation's wealth. Remember
the Engine School’s Slogan;
Invention for the "style of beauty"-
Production for the "style of wealth"-
Edited by-
H. A. Engel
Radio 'uBA
Madison/ Wisconsin
January 1, 1947
Scanned from the National Association of Educational Broadcasters Records
at the Wisconsin Historical Society as part of
"Unlocking the Airwaves: Revitalizing an Early Public and Educational Radio Collection."
A collaboration among the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities,
University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Communication Arts,
and Wisconsin Historical Society.
Supported by a Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant from
the National Endowment for the Humanities
I T |J MARYLAND INSTITUTE for
I I I I I I TECHNOLOGY in the HUMANITIES
UNIVERSITY OF
MARYLAND
WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
WISCONSIN
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE
Humanities
views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication/collection do not necessarily reflect those of the
National Endowment for the Humanities.
